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Mac OS X requires an administrator account to install programs, make system changes and edit users, and the operating system supports multiple administrators. If you need to delete an administrator on one of your company's computers, you can do so as long as you have at least one other administrator account available. During the process, you can keep the account's home folder to prevent data loss, or you can securely delete it to protect privacy. There's also an option to downgrade an administrator account instead of deleting it.

1. Log in to the Mac using an administrator account other than the one you wish to delete. If you're currently logged in to the account you want to delete, select "Log Out" from the Apple menu and log in to a different administrator account.

2. Right-click the "System Preferences" icon in the dock and select "Users & Groups" to view the Mac's user accounts.

3. Click the golden padlock in the bottom left corner of the window. Type the password for the administrator account you're currently using and then press "Enter" to enable changes to the account settings.

4. Click the administrator account in the user list and click the "-" button to see the account deletion options. If you want to leave the account's home folder in place, click "Don't Change the Home Folder." If you want to create a disk image of the account's home folder contents, click "Save the Home Folder in a Disk Image." If you want to delete the home folder entirely, click "Delete the Home Folder." You can click the "Erase Home Folder Securely" option to do a secure erase, if desired.

5. Click "OK" to finish deleting the administrator account. If you chose to make a disk image, the account name still appears in the list until the process completes.

Tips

If you want to delete the only administrator account, you need to create a new administrator account before you can do so. Click the "+" icon below the user list to add a new account. Select "Administrator" from the "New Account" drop-down list and then type the name of the account's owner, an account name, the desired password twice and an optional password hint. Click "Create User" to finish making the new administrator account.

As an alternative to deleting the account, you can downgrade a user's administrator account to a standard one. Select the account in the users list and clear the check box next to "Allow User to Administer This Computer." Restart your computer for the account change to take effect.

Warning

If the Fast User Switching feature is enabled, you may have problems deleting an account if it's been accessed prior to your last reboot. Click the toolbar menu near the upper right corner of your screen, which may show either your full name, account icon or nickname, and select the account you want to delete from the list. After logging in at the prompt, select "Log Out" from the Apple menu. You can then delete the account from within "Users & Groups."

About the Author

Ashley Donohoe has written business, technology and education articles professionally since 2010. Having a background in business and technology, she has completed undergraduate studies in business and computer science along with a Master of Business Administration.